Accra, Ghana//-Ghana’s former President and Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama today assured captions of industries and CEOs that the next NDC administration would work with them to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive if the party wins power.
According to him, by creating an environment conducive to business, we aim to attract foreign investment, invigorate local entrepreneurship, and propel sustainable economic growth.
Additionally, he said the platform would foster collaboration between multinational corporations, small and medium enterprises, and innovative start-ups, augmenting Ghana’s economic competitiveness and role as a regional trading hub.
“Our foreign missions will establish trade and business innovation desks to position Ghana as a business hub.
They will thereby assist multinationals and local companies in achieving growth while advocating for the expansion, enhancement, and diversification of local industries”.
He gave the assurance when he delivered the keynote address at the eighth edition of the Ghana CEO Summit held in Accra.
Mr Mahama who has been tipped to win the country’s 2024 presidential election in December, added: “Together, we will expand your businesses to create more opportunities for our increasing youthful population. Together, we will recapture our pride of place as West Africa’s favourite destination for investment”.
Speaking on the theme-: ‘Reigning Business and Economic Growth: Charting a Path Forward; Economic Diversification and Artificial Intelligence Transformation’, Mr Mahama noted that the convergence of economic diversification and artificial intelligence presents them with a unique opportunity to drive sustainable growth and prosperity for Ghana.
“Your theme underscores the urgency and importance of charting a strategic path forward. Economic diversification is imperative for reducing dependence on traditional industries and building resilience against external shocks”.
Collaboration between the private and public sectors is indispensable in this endeavour. We must work with the government, policymakers, and other stakeholders to create an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, he said.
Through initiatives like an Annual presidential-CEO dialogue, we will foster open communication, identify common challenges, and develop actionable strategies to unlock the full potential of economic diversification, technology, and AI transformation.
Mr Mahama assured that he was deeply committed to fostering business growth and economic prosperity in Ghana.
That is why he has announced that he would chair an Accelerated Export Development Council, which would work to expand the country’s exports and take full advantage of the expanded market access afforded by the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mr Mahama explained that, under this programme, existing companies in Ghana would be engaged to modernise their operations and bolster productivity, thereby stimulating growth in adjacent sectors by incubating new enterprises within Ghana.
While providing world-class business support for foreign and local enterprises Ghana’s economic terrain is evolving rapidly, necessitating streamlined processes, enhanced access to information, and augmented support services for domestic and foreign businesses.
Through a centralised platform, companies like Nestlé or Olam Ghana will no longer need to engage with multiple government ministries to resolve issues, the former president added.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who joined the discussions via the Internet said the current administration was doing a lot for the businesses which most CEOs disagreed.
The Ghana CEO Summit is described as the foremost annual business leadership conference in Ghana convenes CEOs from diverse sectors to explore innovative solutions for unlocking economic potential and driving transformative growth in the country.
